Air Force Academy
American International
Falcons sweep AIC with 5-1 win
1/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WATCH: Highlights | WATCH: Serratore post-game interview | Box Score
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force Falcons picked up their first season sweep with a 5-1 victory over American International College in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force improved to 9-9-2 overall and 7-5-2 in the AHC. AIC fell to 5-16-1 overall and 5-11-1 in the league.
Sophomores Erik Baskin and Ben Kucera each tallied three points in the contest, as the Air Force offense continued to roll, landing 87 shots on net over the course of the series.
Kucera and Baskin linked up to open the scoring and set the tone for the contest with just under five minutes to play in the opening frame. Kucera led a two-man rush into the AIC zone, racing along the left-side boards before feeding Baskin on the Yellow Jackets' doorstep.
Air Force added three goals in the second period to put the game out of reach. Midway through the frame, Jordan Himley nabbed the game-winner. Freshman winger Evan Geisler snapped off a sharp-angled shot from the left half-wall. AIC goalie Alex Murray made the initial save, but the Falcons' leading scorer, Himley, was in perfect position to tee up the far-side rebound. The junior winger has 14 points in his last 12 games.
Freshman Matt Serratore added his fifth of the season at 15:29, wrapping the puck around the net before jamming it past Murray. Kucera converted his second goal in as many nights at 18:07, burying Tyler Ledford's cross-ice pass from the right side of the crease, to put Air Force on top, 4-0.
Baskin added his second goal of the night on a rebound goal at 6:13 of the third frame. Freshman winger Luke Rodgers tallied the Yellow Jackets only score on the breakaway with 6:10 to play in the contest.
Shane Starrett stopped 13-of-14 and took the win in net for Air Force. Murray finished 37-of-42. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.
The Falcons will head to Army West Point next weekend, Jan. 15 and 16, for a two-game set with the rival Black Knights.
